Transfer-tube system.



J. F. SKIRROW.

TRANSFER TUBE SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED mm: 10, '1910.

1 ,O45,335, Patented N0v. 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. SKIRROW, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY-MESNE-ASSIGNP MENTS, TO L AM SON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERV JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW

TRANSFER-NUDE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatented'Nov. 26, 1912.

Original application filed Kay 23, 1905, Serial No. 261,912. Divided and this application filed June 10, i

1910. Serial No. 566,128.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Jonx F. Sumnew, a citizen of the United States, and resident of East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lransfer- 'lube Systems, of which the followingis a.

s ecitication',reference being bad therein to t ie accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a diagrammaticview of an apparatus wherein air is exhausted from one tube and forced through a plurality of tubes; Fig. 2 a detail viewot' one of the v eircuit closing trigger keys. 15'

()ne of the objects of this invention is to provide means whereby a plurality of receiving stations may be connected to a single transmission tube, each receiving station being provided with means for independently actuating the timing nwchanism whereby the motor will be indepemlcntly controlled froureach of said stations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single transmission tube, with a plurality of receiving stations, an airblower being arranged to draw air throu h said tube and to force it out through a p iurality 'of tubes, whereby all the carriers transmitted by said single tube will be delivered at the central station. All of the transmitting tubes connected to the pressure side of the blower lead from the central station and each is provided with a receiving terminal. All of the receiving terminals on both tubes are provided with means for independently setting the timing meaus, whereby the motor will be independently eoutrolledfrom each of said stations.

This application is a division of my application tiled ay 23, 1905, Serial No. 261,!)12Q -Rel'e|'1'in, to the various parts byn unerals, l. Qand 2 designate the transmission tubes, 1 being the incoming tube and 2' and 2 the outgoing tubes. The inner, or what might be termed the central station end of each of these tubes, is connected to a blower, 3, the suction side}! of said blower being connected to the incoming tube 1, and the pressure side 5 thereof being connected to the inneror central station ends of the outgoing tubes 2 and 2'.

The blower 3 is operated by any suitable form of electric motor 6, as shown in the I the tube at that "ing terminal in the suction tube 1. that is to drawing. The motor is directly connected to the shaft of the blower, but, of course, it; may be connected thereto in any suitable manner, the blower being driven in the proper'direction to draw air through the tube 1 and force it outwardly through the tubes 2 and 2.

The incoming tube 1 is provided with receiving terminals 7, the central station end of said tube being formed with the single discharge terminal -8, said. discharge terminal being fitted with an outwardly opening door t) to prevent the air from flowing into oint. This door is shown in Fig. 2 of the rawing. Each of the outgoingv tubes is provided at its inner -or central station end with a receivin terminal 10 which isnormally closed by a oor 11, said door being so disposed that. it will prevent the escape of air from the tube at that; oint. Each of these outgoing tubes is provi ed at its distant or'outer end with a discharge terminal 12.

In ordinary store service apparatus, the outgoing tubes are arranged sothat each will disclnu'ge at or near a separate receiv-' say, one outgoing tube will lead to the most, distant receiving terminal in tube 1; another to the next'distantreceiving terminal and so on throughout the series. It will. of course, be understood,-however, that to adapt the system for other uses the outgoing tubes need not necessarily tend to a receiving terminal in the suction tube.

At each of the receiving terminals of both the incoming and outgoing tubes is arranged a circuit clming trigger 13. Each of these triggers is arranged to extend into the one sothat its end lies in the phth ot' the entering carriers. This trigger is provided with a contact arm 14 which is adapted to engage the stationary contact 1:3 located ina small casing 16 connected to the side of the tube. When the contact arm engages, the said stationary contact liithe motor timing circuit is closed. In this circuit is a solenoid 17whose armature oi core is prolonged to form a rack baihlS. and is provided at its upper end with a weight 19. The rack bar 18 meshes with a gear-20 of a train. of gearing .21. This gear is loose on its shaft, but is connected thereto by means of a pawl and ratchet in such manner'that when the soienoid armature descends to its normal position and under the influence of the wei 'ht 19 it will rotate said gear ant shaft and actuate the timing train. The final shaft of said train carries a small governing fan 23. The trigger or key 15 is provided with means, preferably a spring 21, to hold its contact arm 16 out of engagement with the fixed contact 17 so that the motor timing circuit will normally he. open. It will, therefore, be seen that when a ion is inserted in any one of the rreeirng,

\ a terminals or o stations the motor timing circuit will he completed and the solenoid armat manifest that the timing train and the 23 actuated thereby may he so arr: nget proportioned that it will reiuire a time for the desrent o1" tiie solenoid arnia after the broken. i

The motor circuit a. is completed through a motor starting solenoid F25, and said inst-or starting solenoid is ar ringed it i, inol controlling cireuit l). Directly below the arinature of the timing solenoid is arranged a pair of normally" closed contacts 526, one of said contaels being adapted to he engaged hy the ari'nalure ot the timing solenoid the lower end of its movement to separate said contacts. As these contacts form part of the motor controlling, circuit it is man test that when they are separated said circuit will lie hrolcen and the coil of the motor starting solenoid will he deiinergined, thereby permitting the solenoid eore to drop and open the motor circuit.

it will thus he seen that when a carrier is inserted in any one ol the. siting lei-ruinals the motor timing timing solenoid l7 raised to its upper position. As soon as the armature of said solenoid is, tree oi the contacts 526 tlnihiotor controlling circuit is closed and the armature oi the motor starting solenoid 253 eoinpletes the motor circuit. As soon as the tarrier is passed beyond the trigger lay the receiving terminal the motor timing circuit will he broken and the armature of the solc noid 17 will begin its downward morement. This movement may he retarded to any extent desired lrv nnaans (ii the timing train and the fan so that the motor will he permitted to run any desired length of time, usually only a few seconds, until the lower end of the armature of said solenoid eugages and separates the contacts 26. it n ill he observed that the last .arrier inserted in any one of the transmission tubes resets the timing mechanism so that the motor will run a predetermined time alter the last carrier is inserted, Whether it he an incoming carrier or an outgoing one.

not'or timing circuit has been core lifted to its uppermost position 1 ('ll'Ullll' completed I i. I l

through the trigger, and the armature of the. 5 q

' r nnrried thereto and arranged in ilrau' alr l l l l l i l l l l It will, of course, he understood that as incoming and outgoing llltflfs'llllSSl I'lll may he connectetil to and operated or one roots and hlmver as desireth it being only neces. try to have the motor and lilower oi, the proper capacity.

Having thus .t'ully de.--;cril )ed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A transit tulle system conn irising a plurality of l"'lll5llll:wf-ltlll tubes, an air pump eoniiected thereto and arranged to draw air tron; one ol? said tithes and to l'orre it through a, plurality ol. said, tithes. an electi' motor for driving" said pump. a plural-- of receivu terminals in the slu'lion t'oi'lneeli' to the exhaust side of the p. each outgrow, lllllt through. n'hieli air arc-ed hemp; arranged to discharge rart ale rt-i'eiiing terminal in the .de disehargje terminal tor means f r stopping the motor ater a deterinintni nn-ind of opera lion, and means at null J'tl't'lYlllg terminal for starting the motor.

transfer tuhe system wmprisin r a plurality of il'll]."-'llllt-,, ion lulies, an air pump ronnnrled thrrelo and arrangnid t draw all from one of aid luhes and to tori-o it through a plnralil' i' oi said lulies, an l'rtrio motor (or driving said pump. a plulillll l ol' rnreirin .sr terminals in the llllilf eon single ilisrharn'e terminal for said ling; r 2ll(l mol l" and arral "ed to l lion to arrest the motor and means at earli iron) one oi. said [lilies and to lorre it through a plnralitv of said lulu; an el rlrii. motor lor drivinn said pump, a plurality of revolving terminals in the tulle connected to the exhaust side of the pump, a single dischurn terminal for said tulle, a single timinp; means Ctllli'l lllllll ll said motor :ml arranged to he placed in operation and a ting l rind of operation t alter a deteiiuined arrest the motor and n'eeans at each receivnal 'lor starting,- the motor, :aoh motor rting Tilt-EH18 s terving to independently start the timing means.

-"l. :i transfer tulle system comprising a plurality of transmission tuhes, an air pump r nni-rled to one of said tulies to rxhaust air tlurelron'i, a plurality of revolving terminals in said suction tube, a single disrliargo terminal for said suction tube, a iipe ctmnected to the pressure side of the Dump, a, plurality of outgoing lulu-s eon oeted toand arranged to receive air from lit) menses said pressure pipe, ouch seicl ouigoing tubes leading toe separate receiving terminal in the suction lube, an elcciric IllOiOi ior driving said pump, a single timing means conu'oiling said inoior euclarranged to he placed in operation and acting after u determined period of operation so arrest the motor and means at each receiving terminal for starting ihe motor each nio'itor starting means serving lo independently shes-i; ihn liming; means.

A lzrunsi'er lLUlJQ system comprising o plurality of lrunsniission iuloes, on air pump connccied thereto and to draw air from one of tubes and to force u through c plursliiy of said tubes, a motor for driving sni ci goumzo, e plurality of re cciving terminals in one tube connected ('0 the exhaust sicie of the pump, each outgoing" lube lhrough which air is forced being or ranged to {iischurgccurricrs at or nears scpurcie receiving terminsi in the, suction tube, u single discharge terminal for i-he suciion tu'" a moior controlling means responsive to the carrier insertions of said transit tubing for insuring the operation of the :notor during u predetermined minimum time intcrvui foliowing each carrier inscriion and inrleuemienfi of the uctual travel of ineer'oecl carrier.

5. A irunsfer tube sysaiem comprising u plurality of transmission iuhes an air pump connectecl thereto and arranged to draw air from one of said tubes end-i0 force it ihrough e piuroliiy of seici tubes, a motor for clriving said pump, a plurality of rcceivin terminals in the tube connected. to the eiziiiusi side of the pump, such ouizgoing who through which air is forced heing'urranged i0 discharge cerficrs at or near a so crate receiving terminal in the auction in e, 9. single discharge terminal for the suction tube on automatic controilcr for rier inseriion until the interval of time following any carrier insertion without a foilowing carrier insertion exceeds a predeterllllneil period and to stop the motor when said inlcrvul exceeds that period.

'2'; A l'riinsfer tuloe system comprising s plu slit of transmissiontubes, an air pump connected thereto and arranged to draw air from one of said tubes and to force it through a plurality of saicl tubes, :1 'moior for driving said pump, a lurality of receiving terminals in the to e connected io the exhaust side of the pump, each outgoing tube through which air is forced being orrnuged. to discharge carriers at or near a separate receiving terminal. in the suction tube, u, single discharge terminal for the suction tube, timing mesnsfor said motor orrungci'l' to he set to stop the carrier ciriving operation of the motor inclepeneieniiy of the travel of the carriers, and means each c espatching station for starting ihe unit-or lllfl soiling the timing means for the transmission of carriers.

8. A transfer tube system comprising a pluraliiy of iirzmsmission tubes, an air pump connected ihereto and arranged to draw air from one of said tubes and to force it through a plurality ofsaid tubes, u mozor for driving seicl pump, a plurality of receivin r terminals in the tube connect-ed totne exliuust siile of the ump, each outgoing tube through which fill is forced being orrunged to discharge carriers at or near o soparaie'receivin terminal inithc suction tube, a single discharge terminal for the suction tube, 11 timing means for said motor zirrunged to be set' to stop the carrier driving opcraiion of tho motor indepenclenily of the travel of the carriers, and means for resciting said timing means independently of the position of the timing means uniler'the previous setting.

in icstinzouy whereof I hereunto ufiix my si nature iii-lime presence of two witness-es this 25th day of May, 1910.

JOHN F. SKlRRGW.

Witnesses:

' EMMA D.

.Auc" C.

NoLLEn, Hnoson. 

